Discovering You Are a Forced Adoptee

In the expat and globally mobile community we are familiar with adjusting to new cultures, new countries and new homes. In our processing, we often look to our families, our roots, our ancestors and our childhoods. 

What happens though when that avenue is not available to you? How does it feel to not have the same connection to your roots? Where does that leave you emotionally?

In this episode, I talk to Liz Harvie about being adopted and the impact of loss and grief as a child, through to adulthood and to having her own family. In our conversation Liz also shares the deeper impact of discovering that her parents were actually forced to give her up for adoption.

Liz offers insights into the social attitudes towards adoption, plus the emotional and physical importance of knowing where you come from. She also explains why the UK inquiry into forced adoptions matters so much to so many.

Mentioned in the episode

Forced Adoption: Birth Parents Urged to Give Evidence to Inquiry – BBC News

Follow Liz Harvie

Follow Cath at Drawn to a Story

Episode information

Music by Grant McLachlan

Resources

UK

Adoption UK – Support & advocacy for those parenting /supporting kids who can’t live with their birth parents

New Family Social – information/support for LGBT+ adoptive & foster families

Samaritans – FREE Help – Tel: 116 123, E: jo@samaritans.org

NHS Depression Support Groups

NHS Mental Health Services

The British Psychology Society – Find a Psychologist

Australia

Forced Adoption Support (South Australia)

National Apology for Forced Adoptions

SANE Australia – Counselling support, Tel: 1800 187 263 (10am – 10pm)

Mensline – help, support, referrals and counselling for men

Beyond Blue – Mental health support

The Black Dog Institute – Medical health resources, services and research

USA

The Centre for Adoption Support and Education

American Psychologist Association – Psychologist Finder

OR contact medical services in your country.

2 thoughts on “Discovering You Are a Forced Adoptee

  1. OMG I just heard you say, “How can we help?” And I am just weeping with gratitude. Thank you sooooooo much for wanting to help.

    1. Hi Kaz,
      It really is my pleasure to amplify these stories. Hopefully it helps in some small way. Too many people are still suffering with the impact and outfall of other people’s decisions and behaviours.

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